Danyal Hasnain defends Kashmir’s disputed status at UN HRC

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday strongly defended the disputed status of Kashmir at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), during its 57th session in Geneva.

Pakistan’s Second Secretary to the United Nations, Danyal Hasnain, delivered a robust rebuttal to India’s assertions, reaffirming the disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir and calling for greater international attention to the ongoing human rights violations in the region.

Speaking under Agenda Item 2, Hasnain exercised his right of reply to counter what he referred to as “unwarranted and fallacious comments” made by the Indian delegation. He stressed that no matter how much efforts are made to conceal the truth, “it will resurface in one form or another.”

Hasnain outlined several key points to the Council, emphasizing that Jammu and Kashmir remains a disputed territory, as recognized by multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, which affirm the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. He declared that India’s continued presence in Jammu and Kashmir constitutes an illegal occupation.

Hasnain also highlighted the concerns raised by various international bodies, including the UN High Commissioners for Human Rights, UN Special Procedures, civil society organizations, and independent media, regarding the serious human rights violations taking place in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

He criticized India for reneging on its promises to the Kashmiri people, specifically pointing to the unilateral abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status in 2019 and the removal of certain safeguards that had previously been guaranteed to the region.

In a sharp statement, Hasnain characterized India’s actions as being in defiance of international law, branding the country a “persistent violator” of UNSC resolutions and human rights principles.

He called on the Human Rights Council to stay focused on addressing the “ongoing denial of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination” and underscored that it is within the Council’s mandate to uphold human rights in the region.

Concluding his remarks, Hasnain reminded the Council and the international community: “The truth may be stretched thin, bruised, and tattered, but it cannot forever be subdued by oppression and subjugation.”

He urged the global community to hold India accountable for its actions and ensure that the rights of the Kashmiri people are recognized and restored.